Stephen Ferris Recalls Brilliant Night Out Story With SOB From RWC 2011
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One of the most memorable moments in Irish rugby history. Stephen Ferris carries Will Genia almost back to Ireland on the way to a famous victory over Australia.
What you probably don’t know is Ferris had some fantastic ‘preparations’ a few days earlier with SOB on a night out in Plymouth.
I bump into a lad who is dressed in an all-in-one spandex bodysuit. The green part of the tricolour; his two mates are the white and orange. He lets out a roar and peels back the hood.
‘Jesus hell John, what about ya?’
It is John Kerins, a lad from Cork that I had played with for Ireland Youths.
I catch up with John and his mates and end up chatting with a group of girls, a couple of whom are Americans.
New Plymouth is not the type of place where you can walk out and get a taxi; they are in short supply. When Sean and I go to leave, with the American girls for company, we have no luck getting one.
We have only had a few beers and have our wits about us. We have a massive game against Australia the following week. We eventually flag a taxi and go back to the [hotel].
I send a text to my room-mate. ‘ROG, I’ve got a girl back. Any chance of you fucking off?’
He texts back, ‘No worries mate.’
He gets his bags and moves out of there pretty quickly. He texts Drico: ‘Big man’s got a girl back, any chance I can bunk in with you?’
He does the right thing. Next day, I buy him lunch.
Myself and Seanie are back on the mission to ensure we play well against Australia.
The preparations worked!
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